Rathbone gets leadership role

Jake White may have departed, but the Brumbies will still have a strong South African influence in 2014.

Jake White may have departed, but the Brumbies will still have a strong South African influence in 2014.

The Brumbies announced their leadership group for the 2014 Super Rugby competition - with South African-born back Clyde Rathbone among a group that also includes Fotu Auelua, David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano and Stephen Moore under the incumbent skipper, Ben Mowen.

The group of six will help guide the franchise both on and off the park, with more than 40 years of rugby experience combined between them.

Auelua arrived at the Brumbies in 2012 on the back of five years playing in France and Japan and has since developed into one of the franchise's go-to men. Auelua's big presence on and off the field saw him elevated to the franchise's leadership group during the 2014 pre-season and that role has now been extended into the season proper.

Having captained the ACT XV in 2013, Auelua is no stranger to leadership duties and the big loose forward said he was proud to have been given the honour of a position in the team's leadership group.

"It's a great honour for me to be part of the leadership group at the Brumbies. The franchise has put plenty of faith in me and my ability and I am excited at the chance to repay some of that," Auelua said.

"It was only a few years ago that the Brumbies were scratching around for guys with experience, but that's changed over the last three years. We're fortunate enough to have plenty of leaders in the group and I'm happy to fit in as the coaches see fit.

"Right now the important thing for this group is to focus on February 22 against the Reds. We are coming off the back of a good pre-season and with the season just around the corner, everyone is pretty keen to get onto the field."

Like Auelua, Rathbone will enjoy his first year in the Brumbies leadership group having returned to the franchise in 2013 after three years away from the game.

A veteran of 63 Super Rugby caps, Rathbone brings plenty of experience to the group having claimed a title with the Brumbies back in 2004. Since then Rathbone has gone on to run his own business and become one of the ACT's most identifiable characters.

Pocock lines up for his second season in the Brumbies leadership group while Moore, Lealiifano and Mowen will prepare for their third years as vice-captains and respectively.